Method and apparatus for production amplification by spontaneous emission of radiation



Un' ite -d States Patent Inventor: Robert New Old National Building,5619 v Fannin St., Houston, Texas 77006 [21] Application No.: 765,052 ls e [22] Filed: Oct. 4, 1968 [45] Patented: Aug. 4, I970Continuation-impartofSenNo. 641,825., May 29, 1 967 METHOD AND-APPARATUSFOR PRODUCTION I AMPLlFlCATlON BY SPONTANEOUS EMISSlON OFRADIATION 4 28Claims, 9 Drawing Figs. Z [52] (1.8. CI. 166/303, 1 .166/60; 219/277[51] lnt.Cl., ..-E2lb43/24 [50] Field ofSearch....,.. i 166/272,

[56] References Cited I UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,457,479 6/1923 Wolcottl66/60Xv 2,134,610 10/1938 Hogg 166/60 2,670,801 3/1954 Sherborne.166/177X' 2,685,930 8/1954 'Albaugh.... 166/302, 2,757,738 8/1956,Ritchey 166/60X 2,923,535 2/1960 Ljungstrom... 166/302X 166/602,954,826 10/19 601 vSievers ALLUVIUM I H ALLuVIuM 3,004,137 10/1961Karlovitz.....'. l75/l6X 3,140,421 7/1964 Spongberg ..2l9/l2l(P)UXPrimary Examiner- Marvin A. Champion Assistant Examiner Ian A. CalvertAttomy-Strauch, Nolan, Neale, Nies and Kurz ABSTRACT: A method andvariant apparatus for the recovery of crudepetroleum from a naturalreservoir by in- (for the purposes of this application electro-energy"is used as a generic term and includes electrical current dischargesand/or electromagnetic wave discharges) to effect an interaction betweensaid gas and the impacted electro-energy with resultant ionizingexcitation of the gas atoms and molecules and emission of radiation inthe infrared (heat) sector of the electromagnetic spectrum within thenatural reservoir. The

apparatus contemplates a source of suitable gas, preferably internalcombustion engine exhaust gases, a suitable source of electrical currentas herein defined, and transducer means composed of a tube forconducting the gas into the drilled well-bore and extendingthrough thenatural reservoir oil bearing zone and discharge elements for injectingelectro-energy impacts into the gas or gases to excite the atoms andmolecules during their passage through and from the transducer.

l twat Patented Aug. 4, 1970 Sheet i of 4 SHALE INVENTOR ROBERT V NEW 1OIL BEAR! ZONE / ///A//// v r T/VVV///////////////////////////////////////4/ ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 4,197g Sheet TO $TORAGE TANK ALLUVIUM WAVE ENERGY SOURCE 1 OIL BEARING ZONINVENTOR ROBERT V NEW J M% ZM%M ATTORNEYS from oil-shale."--byinjectionof infrared This application is a continuation-in-part of 'my copendingapplication Serial No. 641,825,, filed May 29, 1967, entitled Method andApparatus for Oil Production Amplification by Stimulated Emission ofRadiation.

BxcxoRou uor THE INVENTION Hydrocarbon oil usually occurs in naturalreservoirs of porous and permeable conglomerate matrix, the oil existingwithin the interstices of such matrix. The interstices vary in size andcontinuity asthe size and shape of the solid formation Y particles ofthe matrix vary within the said reservoirs. Nu-

' merousfine fractures interlace the matrix, being intersticesthemselves. Hydrocarbon oil is restricted in its flow from its positionwithin such interstices because of (1). the properties of viscosity,capillarity, cohesion and surface-tension, (2) by lack of the energyoften naturally caused by gas expansion or It is well known that heatreduces viscosity of hydrocarbon oil in spectacular fashion, that theapplication to hydrocarbon oil of even a modest amount of heat canproduce a reduction of viscosity that can approach 100/1 or even1000/ 1. Also, it is well known that steam vapor requires about 1400timesthe amount of space as does the water from which it is formed, theexpansion in volume creating pressure which is the basis for allmaterials and conditions accumulate in well-bores and attendantequipment and in the adjacent formation that inhibit production. It isthe purpose of this invention to provide in an improved and simple,economical and novel, way with an apparatus and means of simple novelconstruction, a method to water drive, and/or (3) contamination in oradjacent to the well-bore.

steam-developed kinetic energy. Also, it is well known that elevatesufficiently the temperature of .a cased'well-bore and its attendantequipment and/or the adjacent natural oil-bean ing reservoir byintroduction of super-heated inert gas or gas mixtures into thereservoir to effect desired reduction in viscosity, capillarity,cohesion and surface-tension of the hydrocarbon oil content, and/orconversion of. the interstitial water to steam, and/or removal of.aeeumulated salt, paraffin, asphaIt sI udge or emulsions, detrital.m'aterial, products of metallic. oxidation (such as rust);, water-block and other productioninhibitors,

ncl apparatus variants are respectively useful in accomplishingthe-teachings and purposes disclosed in my copendi'ng application Ser.No. 667,228 filed Sept. 12, 1967, of the same title-now abandoned, bycopending applications The e d entitled Apparatus for ProductionAmplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation, Ser. No. 641,823filed May 29, 1967, and Ser. No. 712,510 filed Mar. 12, 1968, and mycopending application Ser. No. 724,002 filed Apr. 24, 1968 entitledMethod and Apparatus for Cleaning Heat Amplification by StimulatedEmission of Radiation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Another important object of this invention isto provide means of applying, reenforcing and controlling theelectroenergy impacts to be applied to the mixture of gases as hereinprovided.

-' A further object of this invention is to provide new, novel,

simplified, efficient and economical apparatus (notably transducermeans) to effect the excitation of the gas.

A most important object of this invention is to utilize the energylevels of one or more of the gases herein set forth to continuously emitinfra-red (heat) radiation when excited by the action of electro-energyimpacts as herein described. Mix- 'tures of certain of these gases ofsuitable energy levels (such as helium and neon, or carbon dioxide andargon, or carbon dioxide and nitrogen) will emit infra-red (heat)radiation when mixed in proper proportion and the mixtures are excitedby application of optimum impacts of such nature.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an effi-. cient,simple and economical transducer means comprised of tubing forming acontinuous conduit and an electrical cable spiraled thereabout andconnected to electro-ener'gy discharge elements at pre-selectedlocations along the transducer designed to inject electro-energydischarges into the gas to cause excitation and a high degree ofionization of the atoms and molecules of the gas as it descends throughsaid conduit.

Another object of this invention is to provide as one form of transducermeans a small diameter casing which both cases a bore-hole and servesalso as a continuous conduit to introduce selected gas into a naturaloil bearing reservoir and an electrical cable hanging therein andmounting electro-energy discharge elements in the form of electrodes orlight-emitting I tion and ionization of the atoms and molecules of thegas as it descends through the casing.

The present invention further provides a new, novel, efficient, andexceedingly economical internal combustion engine driven electricalgenerating plant supplying engine exhaust gas and also electricalcurrent for activating a transducer means of the preceding objectsdisposed in a bore-hole in a natural reservoir to cause a high degree ofexcitation and ionization of the atoms and'molecules of the exhaust gasresulting in radiation in the infrared (heat) sector of theelectromagnetic spectrum, for heating of the through put gas and of theporous and permeable oil bearing zone of natural reservoirs in the earththereby causing the oil therein to flow into a completed production wellfor recovery, and/or to cause removal of materials and conditions thatmay inhibit maximum and efficient production.

within natural reservoirscontaining high viscosity oil, and toximpartflowability to such oil.

Another objectofthis invention is to extract shale-oil? (heat) rad'tionand p A further object of the invention is to provide exhaust gasesand electrical current generator plant equipment and a transducer of animmensely improved and efiicient construction for on site operation toproduce the oil from a natural reser voir by infrared radiation producedby excitation of the exhaust gases, preferably of an internal combustionengine which engine simultaneously, and at almost no extra cost, drivesan electrical generator to provide the requiredquantities of electricalcurrent to energize the transducer fitted with electro-energy dischargeelements (such as electrodes or injection diodes) to cause ionizingexcitation of the atoms and molecules of the combustion gases in amanner to effect quantities of radiation emissions in the infraredsector of the elec- 1 tromagnetic spectrum to heat and substantiallyreduce the viscosity of the hydrocarbon oil, and/or to vaporize theinterstitial water in the natural reservoir, and/or remove productioninhibitors within a cased well-bore, its attendant equipment andadjacent formation.

Still another object of this invention is to provide generatingequipment that produces both large volumes of nitrogen and carbondioxide gas and electrical current for effective use under predeterminedconditions to provide new, novel, efficient and extremely economicalmeans to create and in-- troduce heat into natural reservoirs containinghydrocarbon oil, and/or hydrocarbon oil .and water, and/or intowell-bores and attendant equipment and adjacent formations which may berendered inefficiently productive or non-productive because of theaccumulation of production inhibitors.

A still further object of this invention is to provide apparatus that isan assemblage of relatively inexpensive and largely well knowncomponents arranged in efficient and economical combination foreffective transformation of x quantities of hydrocarbon fuel and ambientatmospheric air into approximately 9 times x quantities of nitrogen andcarbon dioxide exhaust (waste) gas, and simultaneously, and at almost noadditional cost, generate quantities of suitable electrical currentusable to energize a transducer providing an electro-energy feedbackinto the exhaust gas (and possibly other selected inert gases admixedwith said exhaust gas) to produce infrared (heat) emissions byexcitation of the gas atoms and molecules.

LII

A further most important object of this invention is to provide as apart of the apparatus hereof an improved efficient, simple, andeconomical transducer means, comprising tubing arranged to form aconduit through which a suitable gas or mixture of gases is conductedand to mount electro-energy discharge elements, comprising suitableelectrodes disposed at one or a multiplicity of pre-selected locationswithin and-along the conduit so that the electric sparks (arcs)emanating from p the electrodes as they are energized will causeexcitation and' ionization ofthe atoms and molecules of the gas ormixture of gases as it passes through the conduit, and suitablepermanent magnets in close proximity to each electrode to create astatic field for the purpose of causing a rotational effect in the arcsand also a swirling or rotational effect in the flow of the gas so thatall parts and portions of said gas flow will be in ionizing contact withthe said electric arcs.

A further important object of this invention is to provide as a part ofthe apparatus of the preceding object an efficient, simple andeconomical ignitor to start breakdown and ionization of the gas as itflows through the transducer, thus activating the electrodes into whichthe electrical current voltage has already been charged and causing theelectrodes to emit electrical sparks (arcs) which sparks will thereaftercreate further and continuous excitation and ionization ofthe gases.

A most important object of this invention is to provide new, unique andnovel apparatus assemblies to apply this invention to a cased well-borein such a way that the electrical cable, transducer, electrode assemblyand ignitor are readily accessable for adjustment, repair or replacementwithout the necessity of pulling the tubing that serves as the conduitto convey the gas-flow thus effecting maintenance economies contributingto the economical aspects that are so important a part of thisinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further objects ofthe invention willappear from the following description and appended claims when read inconnection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 illustrates schematically generator equipment provided by thisinvention for effective production of electroenergy and the principalgaseous components fitted to a conventionally completed well in anatural oil bearing reservoir for practicing any of the several methodsdisclosed;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged schematic sectional view of the sub-surfaceapparatus of FIGURE l employed to obviate the necessity of pulling thetubing that serves as the conduit for the hot inert gas-flow to thebottom of the well-bore in order that the transducer and its componentparts may be readily retrieved for adjustment, repair or replacement;

FIGURE 3 illustrates in partial cross-section a schematiccross-sectional view of the continuously operating electrode arrangementof FIGURES l and 2 for maintaining excitation and ionization;

FIGURE 4 illustrates schematically in partial cross-section aconventionally completed well in a natural oil bearing reservoir fittedwith an alternate suitable apparatus for practicing this invention;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged schematic elevational view of the conduitprovided by the apparatus of FIGURE 4 to introduce the hot inert gasinto the natural oil bearing reservoir and the electrical cable andelectrodes to form an electromagnetic wave transducer suitable forpracticing this invention;

FIGURE 6 is a detailed sectional view on an enlarged scale of one of thethreaded couplings employed in the conduit of FIGURE 5 to join thelengths of tubing and create a continuous conduit with electric cableand electrodes by which electro-energy impacts are exerted upon the gasconducted to the natural reservoir through the tubing;

FIGURE 7 schematically illustrates a 5 spot" application of hot inertgas produced in accord with this invention useful in continuouslyrecovering petroleum from an area of a natural reservoir within theeffective range of a single bore hole fitted to produce the reservoirarea;

FIGURE 8 illustrates schematically in partial cross-section adirectionally drilled well employing perforated casing in the lowerportion of the natural oil bearing reservoir positioned approaching thehorizontal for a relatively long distance and cooperating with a furtherapparatus arrangement, namely, vertical bore holes cased and fitted toserve as transducers, for applying hot inert gas to the naturalreservoir in accord with this invention; and,

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged sectional view of one of the vertical bore holesof FIGURE 8 illustrating the relatively small diameter casing that maybe used to introduce the hot inert gas into said reservoir and house theelectrical cable and electro-energy discharge elements for producing theelectro-energy impacts into the gas within the oil bearing zone.

DESCRIPTION OF METHOD With continued reference to the drawings whereinthe same reference numerals are employed throughout to indicate the sameparts, the method of heat application provided by this in vention can bepracticed with a wide variation in apparatus.

FIGURE l illustrates a preferred adaptation of the invention to aconventionally completed well suitably equipped to apply the invention.In such a well, the conventional well casing is composed of solid wellcasing 1 extending from the surface down through the alluvium and shaleformations to the top of the oil bearing zone of the reservoir where itjoins connected sections of perforated well casing 2 which extends downthrough the oil bearing zone. The usual production tubing 7, pump 8 andpacker 9 set at the bottom of solid casing l is provided to pump the oilentering the well bore to the surface and thence to an oil storage tank.The gas employed in carrying out this invention is supplied to thebottom of the well bore through a supply conduit 3 extending throughpacker 9 and composed of threadedly coupled tubing sections theuppermost section of which terminates within perhaps 10 feet of well-cap10 (see FIGURE 2) in a cupped flange 3a that is only fractionallysmaller in diameter than the inner diameter of solid well casing 1.Flange 3a receives in nested relation, a gasket G, preferably ofneoprene or asbestos, which is sealingly clamped between flange 3a andthe lower flanged comprises a main tubular body, which may be a sectionof tubing like that employed to provide conduit 3, and electro-energydischarge elements 6 connected by suitable electric cable 4 to supplysource of electric current, in the present embodiment of the inventionan on-site gas and electrical current generating plant of novelconstruction adapted to supply a flow of exhaust gas under low pressureto and through the tubing section of transducer 5 and conduit 3 to thebottom'of the cased well bore.

In operation of this form of the invention, the gas, which may be one oran optimum mixture of two or more of the gases herein set forth,preferably internal combustion engine exhaust gas (carbon dioxide andnitrogen) obtained. as-

hereinafter pointed out, is pumped into the main tubular body oftransducer 5 at the surface and flows therethrough and into and alongconduit 3 to exude therefrom below packer 9 set tionally bolted to theupper end of well casing l. Transducer 5" the reservoir, and fordistributing the heat throughout the reservoir. As the hydrocarbon oil,and the reservoir matrix and the interstitial water (connate andintrusional) and accumulated production inhibitors absorb the heat undergaswet conditions the total purpose is accomplished; the viscosity ofthe oil is greatly reduced, cohesion between the hydrocarbon moleculesthemselves and the cohesion and capillarity between the hydrocarbonmolecules and the solid formation particles of the matrix becomesgreatly reduced, the interstitial water is converted to steam providingkinetic energy in the form of a pressure drive force acting on the oiland on the production inhibiting contaminants to effect efficient oilflow through the interstices of the matrix and thence into a drilledwell to be pumped to the surface and captured (see straight shankedarrows).

Of utmost importance to the present invention, simultaneous with thepassage of the mixture of gases down the tubing from the surface to thepoint or points of injection into the said reservoir, the mixture ofgases is subjected in the transducer to ionizing excitation charges,preferably at a multiplicity of times and places as it travels throughthe transducer, to

' create radiation in the infrared (heat) sector of the electrothenintensifying an inter-action of the electro-energy impacts and the atomsand molecules of the gas mixture resulting in tremendous emissions ofradiation in the infrared sector of the electromagnetic spectrum (in theorder of 10 trillion electrical impulses per second) the radiated heatbeing effective to super-heat the gas which is then introduced into thenatural oil bearing reservoir.

Specifications and characteristics may be determined, in conventionalways forming no part of this invention, to determine the physicalcharacteristics and fluid content of the oil bearing zone. Dependentupon this ascertainable information, and a knowledge of thespecifications of the gas mixture (volume, pressure, and input velocityof the mixture of gases to be used) and the uniform temperature desiredto be achieved throughout the oil bearing zone (perhaps 300F) to greatlyreduce the viscosity of the oil or vaporize interstitial water andimpart fiowability to such oil, mathematical computation can be made todetermine the temperature desired from the radiation of the input gasand the length of time this input heating cycle should be extended toachieve the optimum heating result.

In the huff-and-puff" method (FIGURES l and 4) the cycle of producingthe oil and delivering it to a storage tank is entirely conventional;the input of gas through tubing 3 is stopped and energizing of theelectro-energy discharge elements 6 is stopped at the end of thecomputed heating period. The oil enters production tubing 7 through pump8 and is thence pumped to the surface by conventional means, that arenot part ofthis invention, thence to an oil storage tank.

The cycles may be repeated.

The transducer means of this invention in its alternate forms isinterchangeable and designed to apply to such gases a series ofexcitation discharges at pre-selected intervals, each successivedischarge re-enforcing the ionizing effect upon said gases to affectmaximum radiation in the infrared (heat) sector of the electromagneticspectrum. Thus the transducer means subjects the mixture of gases toexcitation stimulation which causes out-put radiation emissions atfrequencies in the order of 10 trillion cycles per second (infrared).

As the heated gases physically combine into a homogeneous mass withhydrocarbon molecules, individual grains of the matrix and thehydrocarbon molecules become surrounded by a thin but continuous layerof gas, i.e., gas wet. ltis well known in the sciences that these gasescan be in physical continuity even when reduced to a thickness of nomore than one millionth of an inch. Yet, such thin-layer gases displaythe characteristics needed for maintaining gas wet conditions inmagnetic spectrum. In this way the transducer means can be constructedto operate so as to control the interaction and to re-enforce themolecule-atom-electro-energy interaction by pre-selecting' the placementof the electro-energy discharge elements 6 along transducer 5.

In the above mentioned example, knowing the ascertainable specificationsand characteristics of the matrix and of the fluid content thereof, thespecifications of the mixture of gases and the volume, pressure andvelocity thereof, and the temperature desired to be achieved in the oilbearing formation, mathematical computation can be made of the desirednumber of points to place the ionizing electro-energy discharge elements6, and the nature and intensity of each electro-energy discharge. Inthis example one or a multiplicity of points may be utilized.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED APPARATUS EMBODIMENT With continued referenceto FIGURE 1, a combined electrical and gas generating plant,conveniently assembled almost entirely from a wide range of conventionalapparatus components obtainable at reasonable cost to efficiently andeffectively produce electrical current and exhaust gas at substantiallyelevated temperatures and relatively low pressure (as distinguished fromhigh pressure gas-drive), is combined with a transducer 5 of uniqueconstruction to inject ionizing electro-energy discharges into theexhaust gases of the generating plant to interact withand excite the gasatoms and molecules within the transducer to infrared emissivity andintroduce the heated emitting gases into the well-bore and thesurrounding natural oil bearing reservoir through a supply conduit incarrying out the method of this invention. The introduced gases act onthe hydrocarbon oil in a manner to greatly reduce the viscosity,cohesion, capillarity and surfacetension of the hydrocarbon oil, and/orconvert the interstitial water to steam providing kinetic energy toimpart flowability to the oil content of such reservoir, and/or causeremoval of the materials or conditions that inhibit or reduceproduction.

In this adaptation of the invention, an internal combustion engine A ofconventional construction, preferably of a type capable of burning amixture of natural gas usually present in an oil field and ambient air,exhausts products of combustion (nitrogen and carbon dioxide and a smallquantity of water) through exhaust manifold M, preferably to inletpipe'l2 of a desiccator D where the water is removed. The resultingnitrogen and carbon dioxide mixture under the influence of pressure,passes thereafter into and through pipe 16 to compressor C where it iscompressed to a relatively low constant pressure (for example 15 to psi)and then delivered through pipe 17 to main body conduit 18 of transducer5,

veyed through transducer 5.-

hereinafter desc'ribed in detail, fixed to well cap 10, as by gagingits'conve dterrriinal flange a fitted with gasket G in the mating caveupwardly facing flange 3a of conduit 3 as cap-'10 is belted to thecoupling flange ofupper casing sectidnl. i

trical generator-B designedto generate electrical current atconventional voltage (perhaps 300 volts). This output current is fedthrough cable 4 sequentially to a first radio frequency ignitor typeelectro-energy discharge element 6, to be hereinafter described indetail, and then to one or morecontinuously operating electro energydischarge elements 6 in the form of plasma tube type electrodes to behereinafter described, all arranged to discharge into the gasmixturecon- Transducer conduit 18 of FIGURE 1 comprisesa high temmetalor ceramic) while the conduits l7 and 3 may be made of any suitableinexpensivematerial for conveying the gas mix-' ture to transducer 5 andfrom transducer 5 into the well-bore.

Each plasma tube type electrode 6 is designed to transform theconventional direct current energy inputinto spark (arc) dischargesinjected into the gases beyond ignitor discharge element 6 in a way toexpose all parts and portions of thefollowing gas, to the arcingdischarge and maintain the excitation and ionization of the gas atomsand molecules. FIGURE 3 hereof shows schematically in partialcross-section the operational parts of such plasma tube type electrodes.As there shown, cable 4 is connected to an electrode assembly 24 mountedin a pipe coupler and made up of suitable opposing tungsten electrodes25 mounted in electrode holders 26 made of suitable material such ascopper and also mounting per. manent magnets 27 arranged to create astatic field (see arrows) to impart rotation to the arcs bridgingelectrodes 25 40.

minimizing burning of the electrodes and imparting a swirling orrotational effect to the flow-through of gas assuring that all. partsand portions of the gas come in contact with the ionizing sparks. Theentire mechanism of electrode assembly 24 here delineated is insulatedfrom undesirable contacts with the coupler by insulation rings 28 madeof suitablematerial such as refractory material.

Radio frequency ignitor discharge element 6 comprises an assembly 29,containing an R.F. converter, a step-up transformer and automatic switchgear, to change the generated sistance path between and causes thecharged plasma tube type electrodes'6 to arc, and from that time on thelow voltage direct current energy of cable 4 by-passes assembly'29 andflows directly to continuously operating plasma tube type electrodes'6energizing them to are continuouslyand sustain ionization excitation.The gas pressure is increased automatically throu gh the switch gear ofassemblyZQ-to the desired pressure (perhaps 50 to 150 psi) as theignitor electrode 6 ceases operation and theoperating voltage thereafterremains at its generated amplitude (perhaps 300 volts)-o'f directcurrent.

The switch-gear to direct the flow of electrical current to ignitordischarge element 6 or to by-pass it is conventional and not part ofthisinvention. Such equipment together with other conventional controlequipment also not part of this invention ries,i.e.: perature resistantmaterial (for example high temperature I will provide for automaticre-procedure as above in the event the arc ofthe electrodes shouldbecome extinguished.

FIGURE 2 illustrates more fully the manner in which electrical cable 4,transducer 5 and its associated discharge elements 6 are made readilyaccessible for adjustment, repair or replacement without the necessityof pulling supply tubing 3 that serves as the'conduit to convey thegas-flow. To adjust, repair, or replace all or any portion of cable 4,discharge elet I ments 6'or gasket 6 requires only removing cap bolts 31and The drive shaft 21 of engine A is shown connected to drive asuitable D.C. electrical generator B designed to generate elecliftingcap 10 to which transducer 5 is secured to effect separat'ion of the gasflow line at the junction of transducer 5 and supply conduit 3. Conduit3 between flange 3a and packer 9 I may or may not be insulated, and towhatever degree of efficiency, as desired.

' the knowledge and abilities of one skilled in such arts to put thisinvention to use'.

The operation of the generating equipment and the results obtainabletherefrom, are based upon proven scientifc theo- 1; Internal combustionengines will produce approximately 9X quantities of nitrogen and carbondioxide as exhaust gas for each x quantity of natural gas burned asfuel, and will at the same time drive a suitable electrical generator toproduce e quantities of electro-energy, at almost no extra cost, to beconi verted to optimum conditions of usability as a feedback to causeexcitation of the gas:

2. The nitrogen and carbon dioxide content of the exhaust of an internalcombustion engine needs only as treatment for the purposes of thisinvention the drying provided by a conventional type desiccator;experience indicates that at the contemplated pressures exhaust gasescause little or no corrosion of materials used in a well. In thisconnection, this invention is set forth as one to heat (as distinguishedfrom a high pressure gas-drive or forced displacement theory) operatingat relatively low pressures, the radiated heat and hot gas moves slowlyinto the well-bore and reservoir so the element of time complements thecoefficient of heat transfer.

r In the application of the invention a unified fourfold advantageresults, in that (I) the temperature of the hydrocarbon oil in a naturaloil bearing reservoir is elevated to a sufficient degree to greatlyreduce viscosity, cohesion and capil- 45 larity; (2) interstitial waterheated sufficiently to create steam;

(3) salt, paraffin, asphalt, sludge or emulsions, detrital material,products of metallic oxidation (such as rust), scale, etc.,

. may be conditioned for easy removal from a well-bore and its attendantequipment by melting, spalling, erosional or mechanical action, andwater-block adjacent to the well-bore vaporized and expelling kineticenergy developed; (4) heating DESCRIPTION OF ALTERNATE APPARATUSEMBODIMENT The method of this invention can also be practiced utilizingthe huff-and-puff system and a conventionally completed well equipped aswill now be described with reference to FIGURES through 6 l The solidcasing 1 extends from the surface' to the top of the oil bearing zone,perforated casing 2 3 extends through the oil bearing zone, and acontinuous consuitable mixtures, is pumped into tubing 3 at the surfaceand is conducted therethrough and exuded into perforated casing 2 Ibelow packer 9 which is set at the bottom of solid casing l, and thencethrough the perforations of perforated casing 2 the frequency of visuallight.

i into the-oil bearing zone. Inserted through couplings 32 are leIectro-energyT discharge elements 6 the output of which im-.

pacts into the gas mixture ionizing electromagnetic waves, a which wavesare generated on the surface by awa've energy source v generator G ofconventional well known design'and conducted therefrom'to dischargeelements 6 bymeans of electrical cable 23.

As the gas mixture moves down through tubing 3 it is subjected to aseries of repeated impacts at each pre-selected lo-' I cation ofdischarge elements '6. Assuming for this example that .the upper limitof the oil bearing zone is 500 deep and the lower limit 600' deep asmany as discharge elements 6 a energized through electrical cable 23 maybe employed if T desired to successfully practice this invention. As thegas. moves through tubing eachsuccessive discharge element 6 re-enforcesthe impact effect thus'intensifying the interaction oftheelectromagnetic yvaves and the atoms and molecules of f; V :and'pump itto the surface. the gas mixture resulting in tremendous emissions ofradiation in the infrared sector of the electromagnetic spectrum (in theorder of 10 trillion electrical impulses per second) the radiated heatbeing then introduced into the natural oil bean;

ing reservoir asthe super-heated gas is exuded thereinto.

Should the internal combustion engine generating plant of .I'IGURE I beused as the combined source of gas and electrical energy, conventional,low voltage alternating current could "be produced by a suitablegenerator I! and converted in an R-F- converter and then transformed tohigh voltage (in the order of 1 kilovolt). Suchelectro-ene g), whenintroduced into the gas-by means of electro-energy discharge elements 6a (see FIGURE Sand 6 ,creates an interaction with the gas 1-, .I.resulting in emissions in the infrared sector of the electromagneticspectrum. The heated gas flows thence into the oilfbearingformationthrough the perforations of perforated casing 2 Alternatively,electromagnetic wave energyutilizing-the m; ternal combustion engine gasand electrical current generating plant to create exhaust gas andelectrical energy as in FIGURE. l (in this case direct current) can beemployed to energize. semi-conductor crystals (in the nature oflight-emitting injec- I tion diodes) as the electro-energy dischargeelements 60f a transducer variant as shown in FIGURES 8 and 9. Such.

discharge elements can also be employed in the transducers in either thewell arrangement of FIGURE 1 or FIGURE 4 if desiredthus impacting intothe gas electromagnetic waves of REQUIRED APPARATUS FIGURES 7 and 8disclose an adaptation of this invention to a method of continuousinjection and production involving in l the arrangement of FIGURE 8 ofthe stimulation of gravity flow of oil into a well to be thereaccumulated and pumped to' a-surface oil. storage tank. Gravity flow ofoil from a natural subsurfacefoil bearing reservoir into a well is knownto be ex- 55 eeedi ngly efficient; and economical; however, such flow isgreatly retarded by high viscosity of oil, by the cohesionandcapillarity of the hydrocarbon molecules to each other and to thereservoir 'matrix..,'lhe radiated heat and gas-wet" condL tion of thisinvention materially reduces viscosity, cohesion.

. and capillarity and imparts the necessary tlowability to the oilcontent of the re ervoir,.

IIGUREIillustrates .IIGURE 8 illustrates this invention applied througha v amethod of continuous injection and production wherein weils 10 areconventionally completed wells .having pumps 8 andproduction tubing! butcontain no i apparatus for the injection of gas or radiation. Well 1](constructed as shown in FIGURE 9) contains the apparatus of thisinventionfor the injection ofgas and radiation but contains noJproduetionequipmenthe injection of gas and radiation by methodot' thisinflation is continuously maintained in;

. .well It to heat thesurrounding reservoir area causing the conoil tobe freedtoreadily ilow to wells- 10 where the production ofoiliscontinuously maintained from wells 10.

conventional slant drilled production well 10 has a plurality of of theoil bearing reservoir, perforated casing 2 assumes in the I lowerportion of such oil bearing zone a position approaching the horizontaland continues approximately horizontally for a relatively long distancein order to present a maximum drainage area for the gravity flow of theoil into such perforated casing 2. The horizontal extension ofperforated cas- .irlg 2 may be asmuch as 1,000 feet, or even more. Suchdirectionally drilledwell is equipped with production tubing 7 and pump8 only, as it is utilized only to accumulate the oil In the embodimentof FIGURES three or more vertically are disposed along the sides of andabove the horizontal run of perforated casing 2 to. form wells 11 whilein FIGURE 7 a single well 11 is centered with respect to wells 10. Eachwell 11 'consistsof solid casing extending from the surface to the i5topof the oil bearing reservoir, and a perforated casing 36 withintheoil bearing reservoir. Electrical cable 4 depends vertically withinsolid casing 35 and perforated casing 36 and g fitted withelectro-energy discharge elements 6 ofany ofthe Fpreviously describedembodiments (semi-conductor crystal .30 injection diodes where a'DLC.sourceis provided may bev used) at preselected locations alongelectrical cable 23, preferably i thin perforated casing 36. Gas inputpipe 3 extends through asingicap 37 into the upper end of the cavity ofsolid casing 5. These wells are not utilized to accumulate oil or topump it to the surface,these only function as is hereinafter'set forth.

The diameter'of solid casing 35 and perforated casing 36is relativelysrn'all, probably no more than joints of 2-1/ tubing with regular tubingcouplings. The mixture of gases as selected and used in this inventionis introduced into the top of solid 40 casing 35 through gas input pipe3, and thus solid casing 35 i and perforated casing 36 function not onlyas the casing of the if bore-hole but also as a transducer conduit asinFIGURE I 1 The alternate transducers can be interchanged in practicingthe several methods of the invention if desired.

; 5-. While FIGURE 8 illustrates only three wells 11-, anysuitablenumber may be utilized inconjunction with this methodapplication. Assuming that the horizontal perforated casing36 of thedirectionally drilled well extends laterally for 1,000 feet it may be tobest advantage in the practice of this invention to have as many as tenor. more such vertical wells above, and

a along the path of or in reasonable proximity to, the extension j ofhorizontal perforated casing 2 of the directionally drilled well tomaterially reduce viscosity and impart-flowability to the oil content ofthe reservoir in the various ways heretofore pointed out. i

.In these vertically drilled wells 11 the mixture or gases moves downthrough solid casing 35 and perforated casing) and'the mixture passingtherethrough is subjectedto ionizing '9 electro-energy discharges fromdischarge elements 6 and then passes outwardly into' the naturalreservoir. The effect thereafter is precisely identical as is describedinconnection .fwith FIGURE 2 hereof. It follows, therefore, that theoverall concept of heating of the natural reservoir is the same inrespective of whether-the huff-puff" or continuous application equipmentis used.

" As the oil in the reservoir is acted upon as heretofore described itflows by gravity, assisted by any steam generated,

,into the perforated casing of the vertically or directionally drilledwells 10 and is accumulated and pumpedto the surface .oil storage tankby pump 8 through production tubing 7.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forrns without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics I thereof. The presentembodiments are therefore to be con- I method of continuous injectionand production wherein a isidered in all respects as illustrative andnot restrictive, the

'copefof the invention being indicated by the appended claimsrather-than ,by the foregoingdescription, and all changeswhich-comeZwithinthe meaning and range of equivalency ofthe,claimsarethereforeintended to be embraced therein.

1. A met odof' recoveringhydrocarbons from a natural subsurface frcservoir. through a completed cased production well comprisingiisupplying gasthat is chemically inactive as to .the hydrocarbon.constituents of thereservoir and capable of emitting infrared-into a well-bore in-fluidcommunication with saidreservoir; simultaneously applying ionizingelectro-energy impacts tozthefsuppliedgas to effect an interactionbetween the J e'lectro-e-nergy fdiseharges 'andthe gas atoms andmolecules causinga fesultant emission of infrared radiation to heat-the'gas,the well-bore and the-reservoir area selectively to.

a temperature sufficiently high to accomplish at least one oftheflfollovv in'g: a)"conver sion of the interstitial water in thereservoir to steam thereby imposing the resulting pressure on thecontained hydrocarbon constituents forcing them to flow to'asubsurfajcecollection point, (b) a melting or spalling of hardened"inhibitors,vaporization of the c onnage and intru- 'sionalwatert'ahd'rne'ehanical disintegration and dissolution of the frangiblemetallicoxides and scale, and (c) reduction of the viscosity of thecontained petroleum hydrocarbons freeing them to flow to a subsurfacecollection point; and conveying the collected hydrocarbons and fluidsand removing the freed inhibitorsth'rough the completed cased productionwell.

.' 2 The method as defined in Claim 1 wherein the gas is I selected fromthe noble gases, (i.e. helium, neon, argon,-krypton, xenon, radon) andalso nitrogen and carbon dioxide, and

' mixtures thereof.

comprise the output ofa first high (radio) frequency high volt-'agedischar'ge of short duration followed by a series of-sustaining lowvoltage, direct current electron discharges applied at spaced-intervalsalong said cased bore holes and energized by a common sourceofconventional D.C. electrical current.

10, The method as defined in Claim 9 wherein the completed well is adirectionally drilled well having a casing section with a perforatedwall portion extending substantially horizontally along the lowerportion of the oil reservoir and forming a collection conduit and thegas is supplied from the surface through a plurality of cased bore-holesadjacently related and spaced axially along said perforated casingsection.

11. The method as defined in Claim 9 wherein the completed well isa'vertically drilled well having a casing section with a perforated wallportion extending substantially ver- I tically through the oil reservoirand forming a collection conduit and the gas is supplied from thesurface through a plurality of cased bore-holes adjacently related andspaced along a circle having the completed well as its center. I

12. The method as defined in Claim 1 wherein the ionizing electro-energyimpacts are applied to the stream of supplied I gas at pre-selectedintervals along its path of travel so each successive application willhave an excitation re-enforcing effect upon the gases to create,maintain and intensify a resultant infrared radiation heating effectpasses well out into the reservoir area.

13. The method as defined in Claim 1 wherein the infrared emissions aremaintained for a period sufficient to heat the gas sufficiently toconvert the interstitial water to steam.

14. The method as defined in Claim 1 wherein the infrared emissions aremaintained for a period of time sufficient to heat 6. The method asdefined in Claim 1 wherein the gas is'supplied from the surface throughtubing passing downwardlythrough the conventionally completed wellprovided to convey the collected oil to a surface storage area and theionizing electro-energy impacts comprise the output of a plurality ofelectrodes spaced along said tubing and energized from comv mon sourceof high (radio) frequency, high voltage electrical energy.

7. The method as defined in Claim 1 wherein the gas is supplied from thesurface through tubing passing downwardly through the conventionallycompleted well provided to..con-

vey the collected oil to a surface storage area and the ionizingelectro-energy impacts comprise the photon output of a plurality ofsuitable injection diodes spaced along said tubing-andenergized from acommon source of conventional low voltage D.C. electrical current.

8. The method as defined in Claim 1 wherein the gas is s'up- I pliedfrom thesurface through tubing passing downwardly- -through theconventionally completed well provided to convey the collected oil to asurface storage area and the ionizing electro-energy impacts comprise afirst high (radio) frequency high voltage discharge of short duration ofan electrode assembly including a converter, a transformer and suitableswitch gear followed by a series of'sustaining low voltage directcurrent electron discharges from plasma tube type electrodes spacedalon'g'said tubing, said plasma tube electrodes being energized fromacommon source of conventional D.C.

electrical current.

9.'The method as defined in Claim 1 wherein the gas is supthe gassufficiently to effect a melting or spalling of hardened inhibitors,vaporization of the connate and intrusional water,

and'mechanical disintegration and dissolution of frangible I metallicoxides and scale.

15. The method as defined in Claim 1 wherein the infrared emissions aremaintained for a period of time sufficient to heat the gas sufficientlyto reduce the viscosity of the contained oil and free it to flow.

16. The method of Claim 1 wherein the gas is supplied from a the surfacethrough tubing passing downwardly through said conventionally completedwell provided to convey the collected hydrocarbons to a surface storagearea and the ionizing electro-energy impacts comprise the output ofaseries of high (radio) frequency discharges of a plurality of electrodesspaced alongsaid tubing and powered by a common source of conventionalA.C. electrical current.

17. The method ofClaim I wherein the gas is supplied from the surfacethrough one or more cased bore holes adjacently related to saidconventionally completed well provided to convey the collectedhydrocarbon to a surface storage area and the ionizing electro-energyimpacts comprise the output of a series of high (radio) frequencydischarges of a plurality of electrodes spaced along said casedboreholes and powered by a common source of conventional A.C. electricalcurrent.

plied from the surface through one or more cased 'bore holestionallycompleted well provided to convey the collected oil to a surfacestorage area and the ionizing electro-energy impacts "adjacently relatedin said reservoir to at least one conven- 18. The method of Claim 17wherein the conventionally completed well is a directionally drilledwellhaving a casing "section extending substantially horizontally alongthe lower portion of the reservoir and having a perforated wall portionforming a collection conduit and the gas is supplied through bore-holesa'djacently related and spaced along said perforated casing section.

19, Apparatus for recovering hydrocarbons from. a natural subs'urfacereservoir comprising: conduit means for conveying a gas that ischemically inactive as to the hydrocarbon constituents of the reservoirand capable of emitting infrared into a well bore in fluid communicationwith said reservoir, said conduit means within the reservoir havingpassage means providing ready egress ofthe conveyed gas intothereservoir; 1

transducer means for applying ionizing electro-energy discharges to theconveyed gas tov effect an interaction between the electro -energydischarges and the gas atoms and molecules causing a resultant emissionof infrared radiation in thevgas as it effectively to heat the gas, thewell-bore and the reservoir area selectively to a temperaturesufficiently high to accomplish at least one of the following: (a)conversion of the interstitial water in the reservoir to steam therebyimposing the resulting pressure on the contained hydrocarbonconstituents forcing them to flow to a subsurface collection point, (b)a melting or spalling of hardened inhibitors, vaporization of theconnate and intrusional water, and mechanical disintegration anddissolution of .the frangible metallic oxides and scale, and (c)reduction of the viscosity. of the contained petroleum hydrocarbonsfreeing them 'to flow to a subsurface collection point; and at least oneconventionally completed well having its lower cased end perforated anddisposed in said reservoir at said sub-surface collection point toreceive and convey the collected hydrocarbons and fluids and removingthe freed inhibitors to a surface storage area.

end-to-end relation by pipe couplings and the transducer means comprisesa terminal length of said pipe fitted with at least one high (radio)frequency high voltage discharge element connected by'a supply cableextending from a suitable source of electrical energy to selectivelymaintain said discharge element energized to discharge into the suppliedgas for a predetermined time interval to assure optimum heating of thereservoir area.

21. The apparatus of Claim 19 wherein said conduit means extends axiallywithin said conventionally completed well and said transducer meansincludes a section of said conduit means disposed immediately adjacentthe surface of the ground and provided atits lower end with an abutmentflange, the adjacent section of said conduit means is provided at itsupper end with a mating abutment flange, a sealing gasket is disposedbetween said abutment flanges in position to sealingly cooperate withand be clamped between said abut-' ment flanges when said transducermeans is lowered upon said sealing gasket and said adjacent section ofsaid conduit means, said connection between said transducer means andsaid adjacent conduit section assuring a leak proof connection andadapting said transducer means for ready removal for servicing withoutthe need of pulling the entire conduit means.

22. The apparatus of Claim 21 wherein said conduit means and saidtransducer means are disposed within the casing of the conventionallycompleted well, said conventionally.

completed \vcii is provided conventionally with a bolt on closure capand sass section of said conduit means included as part of saidtransducer means is fixed to said closure cap for unitary removal andreplacement with said closure cap whereby tightening of said closure capbolts imparts a clamping force through said transducer means tosealingly clamp said gasket between said abutment flanges.

23. The apparatus of Claim 21 wherein said transducer means includes aninput electrical cable encircling associated with said section of saidconduit means and respective electroenergy discharge elementselectrically connected at predetermined spaced intervals to said inputelectrical cable and fitted to said section of said conduit means todischarge into the gas flow through said section of said conduit means.

24. The apparatus of Claim 21 wherein said electro-energy dischargeelements comprise a first high (radio) frequency high voltage dischargeelement energized for a short duration to initiate excitation andionization of the through flow of gas entering said section of saidconduit means and at least one plasma tube type electrode spaceddownstream of said section of said conduit means continuously energizedto sustain excitation and ionization of the through flow gas after itsinitial excitation and ionization.

25. The apparatus of Claim 19 wherein said conduit means comprises thewell casing of a small diameter drill bore adjacently related to saidconventionally completed well, said well casing includes a perforatedcasing section lying within the oil bearing zone of said naturalreservoir, and said transducer means comprises a portion of said conduitmeans and an input electrical cable suspended in axial relation withinsaid electrodes spaced along said section of said conduit means andcable means interconnecting said series of electrodes an connected to acommon source of high (radio) frequency, high voltage electrical energy.

27. The apparatus of Claim 19 wherein said transducer means comprises asection of said conduit means, a series of injection diodes spaced alongsaid section of said conduit means, and cable means interconnecting saidseries of injection diodes and connected to a common source ofconventional low voltage D.C. electrical current.

28. A generating plant and transducer means for producing a flow of gasthat is chemically inactive to petroleum hydrocarbons and electricalenergy to be impacted into the flowing gas as electro-energy dischargesto excite and ionize the flowing gas to infrared (heat) emissivity andapply the heat output to a source of hydrocarbon oil comprising aninternal combustion engine including an output shaft and an exhaustmanifold; an electrical current generator drivingly connected to saidoutput shaft; conduit means connected to said exhaust manifold andincludinga desiccator and a compressor for delivering said exhaust gasto said source of hydrocarbon oil;

gases.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 5 6Dated August 4, 1970 Inventor(s) ROBERT V. NEW

It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent andthat said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 7, line 12, after "trical" delete --generator B designed togenerate electrical.

Column 7, lines 30 and 31, change "following" to --flowing-.

Column 8, line 67, change "2" to ---3--.

Claim 1, Column 11, line 22, change "connage" to -connate-.

Claim 6, Colunm 11, line 47, after "from" insert -a-.

SIGNH) Am REALED William (SEAL) mast:

Munmn. mm L W, m AttestingOffioer Commissioner of PM

